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The
Disputed Territories
Palestinian propaganda
has labeled Israel's control over the West
Bank (Judea and Samaria) and the Gaza Strip
as "Occupied". The term "occupied"
is not an adequate term. As you will see
the term Disputed should apply.
History of the
Disputed Territories.
- Prior to 1967 Jordan
occupied the West Bank and Egypt occupied
the Gaza Strip. Following the Arab rejection
of the UN partition plan for Palestine
(the area that is now Israel, the West
Bank and Gaza Strip), many Arab countries
attacked the newly established state of
Israel. Israel was victorious and her
victory left her sovereign of the area
that is now referred to as Israel. The
invading armies of Egypt and Jordan were
left occupying the West Bank and Gaza
Strip.
- In 1967 Israel fought
another war in self-defense. Unwilling
to recognize Israel Arab armies again
attacked Israel in an attempt to destroy
the Jewish state.
- Israel was once again
victorious. As a result of her victory
Israel found itself in possession of additional
lands, the Sinai (later returned to Egypt
following a peace treaty) the Golan Heights,
the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Disputed not Occupied.
- Israel has legitimate
rights to the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
These territories are cradles of Jewish
history that have an enormous amount of
biblical relevance. Jews have been living
there for centuries.
- No independent Arab
or Palestinian state has ever existed
in the West Bank or Gaza Strip.
"There is no such
country [as Palestine]! 'Palestine' is a
term the Zionists invented! There is no
Palestine in the Bible. Our country was
for centuries part of Syria." -
Auni Bey Abdul-Hadi, a local Arab leader,
to the Peel Commission, 1937
- The status of the
West Bank and Gaza Strip can only be determined
via negotiations. The West Bank and Gaza
Strip were not recognized as part of any
sovereign prior to 1967.
- During the 1990s Israel
and the Palestinians agreed during the
Oslo Peace Accords that, the final status
of the West Bank and Gaza Strip would
be decided through negotiations.
- UN Resolution 242 requires
Israel's "withdrawal of Israeli armed
forces from territories occupied in the
recent conflict". The word "all"
was deliberately excluded from the resolution.
- Resolution 242 does
not call for a unilateral withdrawal of
Israeli troops from the West Bank and
Gaza Strip. The Resolution stipulates
that an agreement between the parties
must be reached.
- UN Resolution 338 (adopted
after the 1973 War) calls upon the parties
to negotiate so that "a just and
durable peace in the Middle East"
could be established.
Negotiations and
the Territories.
- In 1993 Israel and
the Palestinian leadership headed by PLO
leader Yasir Arafat signed the Oslo Accords
and entered the Peace Process. The Peace
Process had the intension of establishing
Palestinian self determination in The
West Bank and Gaza Strip and security
for the state of Israel.
- Palestinian rule was
established in the population centers
of the territories and final status negotiations
were to be held to determine the outcome
of final borders, Jerusalem and refugees.
- At Camp David July
2000, Ehud Barak, the Israeli Prime Minister,
Bill Clinton the US President, and Yasir
Arafat met for final status negotiations
and the establishment of a Palestinian
state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
- Ehud Barak offered
Yasir Arafat 100% of the Gaza Strip and
97% of the West Bank, and agreed to dismantle
63 settlements. In addition Barak offered
Palestinian sovereignty over the Arab
neighborhoods of Jerusalem that would
become the capital of the Palestinian
state. The Palestinians would have control
over their religious places and have religious
sovereignty on the Temple Mount. Arafat
refused the offer and made no counter
proposal. He responded with violence starting
the second Palestinian intifada.
- The Palestinians once
again rejected Ehud Barak's offers later
at Taba, December 2000.
- Until both parties
agree to the final status of the West
Bank and Gaza Strip the eares are disputed
and not occupied.
Terrorism and the
Territories.
- Palestinian sympathisers
incorrectly claim that terrorism is a
direct response to "occupation".
There is no validity in this claim.
- The death of innocent
civilians, men women and children can
not be justified.
- Israel's presence in
the territories is not the root of terrorism.
Palestinian violence is rooted in the
nurtured and encouraged hatred of Israel.
The Palestinians are constantly incited
to murder innocent Israelis and westerners.
- Palestinian terrorism
predates Israel's presence in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip. Many terrorist attacks
against Jews occurred prior to 1967 and
even before Israel's existence in 1948.
- The Palestinian terrorist
organization, the PLO was established
in 1964, three years before Israel presence
in the territories.
- Many terrorist attacks
have occurred during times when peaces
processes have been at their most active.
When attempts have been made to end the
so-called occupation.
- It is a myth that terrorists
act out of desperation or poverty as a
result of "occupation". They
are incited to commit horrendous acts
of terror by incitement in Palestinian
school textbooks, mosque sermons, Palestinian
media, and idol worship of suicide bombers.
"It is not a mistake
that the Koran warns us of the hatred of
the Jews and put them at the top of the
list of the enemies of Islam".
- Sheikh Hian Al-Adrisi, Excerpt of address
in the al-Aksa mosque (September 29, 2000)
- The Palestinian
leadership has used terrorism and violence
as a means to extract more concessions
on the negotiating table.
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